The Irish standard., 1887-09-24
low, in as few words as possible, let
ne tell you what has happened to my

now, in as few words as possible, let
me tell you what has happened to my
self since my arrival in this country.
First of all, found out the person
through whom had learned Rose Null
vany's fate. He accompanied me to
the house where she had lived. With
what mingled feelings of rage, and
grief, and loatbing [ passed the thresh-
hold! It was one of those places where
vice is decked out in tawdry fnery.
But shall not disgust you with a de-
scription of it. The poor lost creature
whom sought had left the place in i'll
health soAe months before. A dissi-
pated looking woman remarked with a
laugh, that the place was too fast for
the young :greeny' and she broke down.
This account excited my pity for the
lost one, against whom l was beginning
to feel something like resentment as |
looked round Oh her brazen companions
in shame. I was informed that Rose
had gone to city in the far west, and
thitl.er ( started in search of her on the
following day.
K got employment in the great west
ern city, My days were devoted to
work, and from midnight till dawn 1
spent amid scenes the remembrance OF
which makes me shudder. Well, l.
found her at last-found Rose Mul-
vany in one Of the very lowest haunts
of crime and debanchery. The scene
has left but confused impression on
my mind; music and dancing, the fumes
Of alcohol and tobacco, oaths and laugh
ter and shrill screams of anger. And
IN the midst of this pandemonium l
saw the one innocent Irish maiden
with y
4 was quite calm Doyou not won
der that l was so? even felt a sort Of
satisfaction, not at having found her,
but at seeing her degradation with my
own eyes felt as if the spell were
broken, and my sutferings at an end.
The thought that she was what I now
saw her made me miserable for years;
yet felt for a moment an impulse to
laugh outright at my folly. [ saw be-
fore me a creature too low for contempt
toe Gebased for pity, too loathsone TO
be hated. Tuning away, not with dis
gust, but with utter indifference, | was
hurrying out of the polluted atnaos-
phere into the open air, when thought
struck me that made me pause.
is it not my Duty I asked myself
tam I not bound as a Christian to make
an effort to save her?'
'My conscience whispered that not to
make the effort would be q crime. !
had Il message sent to her that a per
son wished to see her in an adjoining
room. The door opened, and with a
smirk on her face, Rose MulvanY ap-
preached me. For moment she
looked surprised, but this was only be-
cause her reception was different from
what she expected. She soon, however,
began to retreat slowly backwards,
while her eyes were fixed OF me with
wild stare. In this way she had reached
the door: and WAS turning the handle
behind her back, when I stepped for
ward and placed my hand against the
door.
L believe said I, yourenasnlber me.
She moved away from me again, and
asked me in a low, hoarse tone 80 let
her out.
Not until I have first spoken to you,
Rose L replied.
Don't speak to me, said she.
4 wish to speak to you for your good.
do YOU not see what 7 amp she
asked,
Il do said l, and that is the reason
( have sent for you.'
Am not lost?'
'But, Rose, you may be saved-your
soul may be saved
She covered her face with her hands,
and the bright auburn hair fell down,
as L SO often saw it fall in the old
Rose said I, in softened voice. L
do not want. to reproach you
'Reproach me!' she exclaimed, look
ing up quickly; what right have you TO
reproach me?'
THE question took me by surprise,
for I certainly thought 1 had the best
ri cl,t in tho world
She put her hand to her throat as if
she were choking, and said: IF it were
not for you I should not be what [ am
Good God I exclaimed, what do
you mean?'
I mean,' said she, that when W as
young and innocent-but why should [
talk of that now?'
Z was confounded; for / thought she
meant to accuse me Of having led her
from the path of virtue in some way.
YES, she continued, after pause,
va, xr,<,, r,ox uo,,r,u in1oopDt heart bQ-